The Calaka Company

VERY RETRO ORANGE

2009-01-25T10:38:00.000-08:00

i am developing a love for vintage orange and these are three of the new items i have in my shop. they are a perfect bright cheerful addition for a retro kitchen in these cold, winter months.

STARTING ANEW

2009-01-22T15:12:00.000-08:00

after taking quite a bit of time off from my blog, i have decided to start anew. i am now focusing all of my attention on my two shops and my interest in eco friendly living. I will be promoting other etsy shops, blogs, and websites of interest to me and hopefully to others. I hope you will check back often. here are a couple of pictures of items i have been working on for the calaka company.

CUTE LITTLE CRITTERS

2008-05-13T06:27:00.001-07:00

I have started to add some needle felted animals to my shop. So much fun to make and they are perfect for a nature table or some will even work as a pincushion. Here are pictures of my first two. I think they turned out pretty cute.

MY TIME OUT

2008-05-07T07:46:00.000-07:00

Well I'm not talking about a time out for poor behavior, but I did take some time out from blogging to work more diligently on getting my shops going. I have found that three shops seems to be a lot of work so I am considering combining my two handmade shops again. I have been spending most of my time learning the art of needle felting. I just completed a pillow, which I am really pleased with. It took about ten hours, at least, to needle felt, but I think it was worth the effort. Right now I am making a turtle and I just listed an elephant brooch. I have also been spending time on my vintage shop, attending auctions and joining teams. So much fun. I can't think of anything I would rather be doing. Now I just have to work on getting the money to roll in. It just takes time I know.

NEW PINCUSHIONS

2008-04-21T17:08:00.000-07:00

I recently added some new fun pincushions to my CaLaKa Company Etsy shop. I have been using the same old pincushion for years and thought how fun it would be to look at something new when I am crafting. So I whipped up one and then decided they might be a nice addition to my shop. Above are some of the ones I have done so far. The wool is great because it keeps your pins and needles naturally lubricated.

BEAUTIFUL DAY

2008-04-19T19:19:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day we had today. I sat out on the deck under the umbrella and needle felted for about three hours. It felt so wonderful to be able to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air while working. I am trying to focus on what it is I really enjoy making and think it is pillows more than anything else. So right now I am working on a needle felted flower pillow. Unfortunately I ran out of one of the main colors of wool roving I was using so have had to reorder and will have to put that project on hold for a few days. In the mean time I picked up some new things at auction tonight and will be listing them on Etsy and Ebay hopefully tomorrow. It is a never ending work schedule, but one that I am really enjoying.

NEED MORE HOURS IN THE DAY

2008-04-14T07:13:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can't believe I haven't written anything since thursday. My daughter and I were talking about how to manage our time so that we can actually make new things for our shops. Last night and this morning I was communicating with customers and joining a new social network called We Love Etsy. It is a place for buyers and sellers to communicate with each other and promote their shops. It is wonderful. but of course is another thing to add to my already overcrowded schedule. Oh well who needs sleep.

MY FIRST NEEDLE FELTED WALL HANGING

2008-04-10T14:41:00.000-07:00

Today I listed my first needle felted wall hanging. I really enjoyed the process of creating it. It is titled Fairies Love Flowers In The Snow. My inspiration was finding out that we are going to have an unusual cold spell in a few days. Although it is very rare for it to snow here, I started wondering what all our beautiful azaleas would look like in the snow. My little fairy was wondering too. She doesn't seem to mind the snow at all, but I much prefer the warmth.

RAISING MY HAND AT THE AUCTION

2008-04-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to an auction that I used to frequent several years ago. Since I have opened a vintage shop on Etsy I have started to go to auctions again in search of treasures to sell. It was an interesting experience because it seemed as if nothing had changed. The same people appeared to be in the same seats and the auctioneer was telling the same jokes. So I just sat myself down in my old seat and waited for the action to begin. It wasn't long before I was right back in the swing of things raising my hand and trying to out maneuver the other bidders. Isn't it funny how just when you think so much has changed you find that so much has actually remained the same. I did miss having my daughter Katy there with me, but I called her on the way home and told her what I had scored. So tomorrow I will put some new found items in my shop and wait for some shoppers to raise their hands.

NEW CHILDREN'S LINE

2008-04-02T20:09:00.000-07:00

I decided I wanted to add more children's things to my shop so today I added a tooth fairy wall hanging. It got the seal of approval from my little three year old friend, Trinity who suggested I should buy it for her for her birthday next week. (Looks like I'll be making another one) It also gave me a chance to needle felt a tiny bit for the first time. WOW, hard work. Can't wait to do more.

FRONT PAGE OF ETSY

2008-03-31T20:56:00.001-07:00

I am very excited that one of my pillows from my new shop CaLaKa Cottons made it to the front page of Etsy tonight. It was also on two other people's treasuries. What an honor. Of course I was at work and missed it, but both of my daughters saw it and called to congratulate me. I also received a convo from a buyer to purchase four of them. Definitely an exciting night.

NEEDLE FELTING

2008-03-30T17:45:00.000-07:00

I finally ordered some needle felting supplies today. I have been wanting to add needle felting to my wool felt things for awhile, but just hadn't done it. So instead of collecting pine needles today to get started on my basket making (it was cool and rainy and I was a bit under the weather) I got online and ordered some needles and wool from Weir Dolls and Crafts. I can't wait for them to get here so I can start working on some projects I have been drawing that really need needle felting as part of them. I also think I am going to try and incorporate the pine needle baskets with some needle felted objects. So exciting. Have to keep up with my daughters who are making such beautiful things.

ETSY INTERNATIONAL

2008-03-28T08:12:00.000-07:00

When I woke up this morning I had a request on shipping for one of my listings on Etsy. It got me to thinking how amazing it is that for a 20 cent listing fee I can have people from all over the world see my crafts and vintage items. In the past month I have had inquiries from England and Italy as well. Sometimes shipping is cost prohibitive, but I love the idea that my things may end up anywhere in the world and that I am able to communicate and meet new people through Etsy. Check out the cute new pen holder fridge magnet (picture above) in my

The Calaka Company shop. Great idea to keep that elusive pen within reach.

NEW ETSY SHOP

2008-03-26T11:01:00.000-07:00

I guess I didn't think I had enough confusion in my life so today I added my third (and last) shop on Etsy. CaLaKa Cottons is where I am listing my cotton pillow covers and bags. I think it will make it easier for my customers to find the items they are looking for and it allows me to focus on The CaLaKa Company as a place for my one of a kind wool felt items. I hope you will enjoy the beautiful colored items you will find on my new shop.

BASKET WEAVING

2008-03-25T05:58:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago when I was in graduate school one of my fellow students asked me how I wanted to use my degree when I had graduated. I didn't hesitate before replying that I wanted to live by the water and weave baskets. Everyone laughed of course thinking I was being my usual funny self, but I just smiled because I knew in my soul that was what I really wanted to do. Well for the past seven years I have lived near the ocean, but I until last week I hadn't found a local medium that I could use to weave baskets with. That was when I discovered pine needle baskets. OMG I cannot only satisfy my desire to weave, but I can find a use for all those trillions of pine needles in my yard. The earth and the heavens have finally come into alignment. Only one small problem. HOW AM I GOING TO LEARN HOW TO WEAVE THESE BASKETS????

Well. The next day I was looking around on Etsy when I discovered a listing for a how to book called Pine Needle Basketry. I couldn't believe it. I quickly punched SOLD before anyone else jumped on it. (I feel sure there are millions of others just waiting to make pine needle baskets)

Yesterday, my book arrived in the mail and I could hardly wait to study it. Amazing. It has step by step instructions on how to create beautiful baskets. I think even I can follow it. So today I am going to start collecting the things I need for my new adventure into creativity. I can't wait to let you know when I have made my first basket.

HAPPY EASTER

2008-03-23T04:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter from The CaLaKa Company and Im So Vintage.

I hope you have a joyous day.

Happy Good Friday from the beach

2008-03-21T11:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Good Friday. I hope your weather is as nice as mine is today? I have spent this morning DRAWING. Those of you who know me also know that drawing is not my strongest talent, but in order to create designs in wool felt I first have to draw them out. Thank goodness my drawings are fairly elementary, because they have to be simple enough to convert into felt. The process involves drawing the design, making a copy, breaking the design down into pieces for the different colors of felt, and then transferring the design to the felt. Needless to say it doesn't always work as planned. Adjustments sometimes have to be made, but working with 100% wool felt is such a rewarding experience because it is so soft and yet so durable. Today I am in a beachy mood so I have been focusing on beach themes. I finally got a mermaid drawn out to my satisfaction and now I am going to concentrate on how to turn it into a pillow. The fun part is all ahead. I hope you'll watch my shop over the next few weeks as I add new things. Please leave me a comment to let me know you have been visiting.

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE..........

2008-03-20T15:00:00.000-07:00

I got up this morning in a reminiscing kind of mood so was surprised somewhat to open my daughter's blog and see that she had written last night on just that subject. The reason I say somewhat is because there are so many times when our minds seem to be on the same thread. For example, just the other night I called her and she said she was waiting to try and get a treasury on Etsy. So am I, I said. What are you going to have as your theme she asked. I replied that I was going to feature artists from my home town this time. So am I she said. HMMMM. Anyway, I had found an old photo album last night of my children when they were young and it started me thinking about the past. Some of the pictures were of their birthdays. How sweet they were and how lucky I am now to have two precious grandchildren. So today I decided not to focus so much on my craft business, but instead to count my blessings. I'll return to business tomorrow. The pictures above are of those wonderful grandchildren and their own special birthdays. So enjoy your day and don't forget to count your blessings.

MY DAUGHTERS, MY FRIENDS, MY FELLOW CRAFTERS

2008-03-19T15:54:00.000-07:00

I have two very beautiful, talented daughters who are crafting like me. I guess growing up with the sewing machine having its own place at the dinner table was bound to have some effect on them. Each one of them has their own shop on etsy. Katy has katydidcreate and Cary has brooklyncrafts. They make beautiful wool felt and felted wool items. They have also started a craft group , along with three other women, in Brooklyn, New York to support their individual talents. I think it is wonderful that they have been able to find creative, like minded women to share time with in support of their endeavors. I am sharing pictures of some of their wonderful things for you to see. Well, tomorrow is the first official day of spring. Enjoy.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

2008-03-18T14:27:00.001-07:00

Is there anything better than spring. I was just sitting by my window looking out at all the trees and flowers that have started to bloom here in southeastern North Carolina and it really made my creative juices start to flow. I want to create brightly colored flowering pillows and wall hangings of the sea. Then I looked at my current supply of wool felt and realized I better come back to earth quickly. So instead I took some pictures of the flowers, which I am sharing with you and then I am going to get back to appliqueing the bumblebee I was working on. Well bees are springlike in a sort of ouchy way.

A NEW TREASURY LIST ON ETSY

2008-03-17T13:59:00.000-07:00

Last night I was fortunate enough to get a Treasury List on Etsy. I chose to feature some of the fabulous artists in my town of Wilmington, North Carolina. It is amazing to me to see the wonderful diversity of the talent in this town. I hope you will view the list and see their beautiful items at;

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=34198

Here are three of the items that are featured.

BEREA COLLEGE KENTUCKY CRAFTS

2008-03-16T13:41:00.000-07:00

Although I am now a resident of southeastern North Carolina, I am a native of Kentucky and have been a lifetime fan of the crafts produced by the students of Berea College in Berea, Kentucky. For over a century the students have produced heirloom quality objects through the college's Student Craft Program. You can find everything from beautiful weaving to fabulous ceramics to gorgeous shaker furniture. Anytime I am in Kentucky I try to make a trip to Berea to admire all of the wonderful things. If you happen to find yourself in eastern Kentucky be sure to stop by and while there don't miss out on having lunch at Boone Tavern. In the meantime, you can see all of the beautiful crafts on their website. http://bereacc.stores.yahoo.net/

TORNADO HIT MY CRAFTING ROOM

2008-03-15T17:06:00.000-07:00

Soooo.... I am sure that if you are a crafter you can relate to this. I went into my spare bedroom, which also is my craft room, sewing room, and place to store all my vintage items for my vintage store, www.imsovintage.etsy.com and realized that I really need to spring clean the entire mess. But, divine intervention happened at that exact moment. A TORNADO WARNING for my area. I realized I was saved. I could claim a tornado struck. I mean who would know the difference. So I closed the door and decided to stick to my story. So here I am blogging instead, on my laptop, while the storms are raging. Isn't it great to be creative???

My Newest Blog

2008-03-14T16:16:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new blog. I am having a lot of fun trying to figure out how to do this. This blog is for my craft business. I have been crafting since age nine and love every aspect of it. ETSY has created a wonderful place for crafters from all over the world to sell their goodies. I have opened a shop there called The Calaka Company. If you click the ETSY logo on my page it will take you directly to my shop, or go to www.thecalakacompany.etsy.com. I am very interested in natural and recycled materials and primarily make items from 100% wool felt. I will be putting pictures of some of my items on my blog to give you a preview. Hopefully, this will spark your interest to go visit my shop. Have fun looking!!